World Cup 2022: Sweden Aim to Keep Spain at Bay

Georgia vs Sweden

World Cup football returns to Europe this week as the continent’s top nations head to the business end of the qualifiers, and when Sweden travel to Georgia on Thursday there’s plenty at stake.

Sweden are battling with Spain at the top of Group B and are currently two points ahead of La Roja, while fourth-placed Georgia’s hopes of a play-off place have faded. While the hosts have little to play for, World Cup 2022: Georgia vs Sweden is a big game for the visitors who, if they win this tie, can afford to draw with Spain in their final game and still top the group. Greece, in third place, can still qualify too, so Sweden will be keen to confirm their place at Qatar 2022 before they meet a strong Spain side.

The latest Georgia vs Sweden betting odds have this nailed on as an away win at a price of 1.47 and, with the potential return of a Galactico, it should be a good night for the travelling Swedes.

Talking Points

Zlat is back for Sweden

The Georgia vs Sweden highlights might well feature a legend of European football who has had a period out of the international limelight. At the grand old age of 40 Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still writing the headlines in Serie A, scoring at both ends in AC Milan’s recent win over Bologna; and he might just be strutting his stuff in Georgia on Thursday.

The veteran striker has scored 62 goals in 118 matches and made a reappearance on the international scene after an absence of five years. He announced a comeback ahead of Euro 2020 but was sidelined with injury, and now he’s fit and ready to do anything head coach Janne Andersson asks of him: “It’s good to be back, “ he said. “I shouldn’t push it after my injuries but everyone wants to play. I’m getting older but I understand my body better now. It’s older even if my mind is younger and I’m getting better looking!”

Zlatan is box office stuff but Sweden has never been a one-man team, and Andersson has a wealth of talent at his disposal. Real Sociedad’s 22-year-old hitman Alexander Isak could be the natural successor to Ibrahimovic and he has four goals already in this competition, while Juventus’ 21-year-old striker Dejan Kulusevski also has a bright future ahead of him. The young guns have plenty of experience around them, with Krasnador’s Viktor Claessen able to play through the middle or out wide, and Red Bull’s Emil Forsberg a creative midfielder with a good scoring record of 15 goals in 66 international appearances. Forsberg hit the target in a disappointing Euro 2020 exit to Ukraine in the Euro 2020 Round of 16 and he’d love to get back on the big stage in Qatar.

World Cup 2022: Can Sweden keep their position at the top of Group B? — Sweden’s Emil Forsberg reacts after missing a shot during their Euro 2020 Round of 16 match against Ukraine

Captain Victor Lindelof is having a torrid time at Manchester United as the Red Devils struggle beneath the shadow of Manchester City but he is a calming influence on the international side in front of the experienced Robin Olsen in the goals.

Georgia looking to the future

A 2-1 win away to Kosovo last month was a welcome result for Georgia after a disappointing qualifying campaign. They started with a 1-1 draw against Greece but things went quickly downhill as they suffered five consecutive defeats before finally having some joy, and the win over Kosovo at least moved them off the bottom of Group G. But with Sweden, Spain and Greece in the distance, head coach Willy Sagnol must lift his side to finish strongly and look forward to the next competition.

20-year-old midfielder Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a bright spark, he is top-scoring with two goals and Sagnol will hope to bring more young players of his quality through.

History

It’s worth remembering that Georgia is a young country and the national football team only came together in 1990 when they played their first-ever game against Lithuania which ended in a 2-2 draw.

When Sweden beat Georgia 1-0 in March Ibrahimovic teed up Claessen for a victory in the first-ever meeting between these two teams.

While Sweden have been flying high, Georgia have lost all three of their home games in these qualifiers.